Microsoft is building a 7in Xbox Surface gaming tablet to follow on from its Windows 8 Surface tablets.

Xbox Surface gaming tablet to arrive before Xbox 720

Following the launch of Microsoft's Surface RT tablet running Windows 8, the firm will create a smaller 7in gaming version called the Xbox Surface. Multiple sources familiar with the plans have told The Verge that initial hardware planning is underway.

Specifications for the tablet leaked in June are apparently accurate and include a 7in LED screen with a 1280 x 720 resolution and a custom AMD GPU with 1.2GB of GDDR5 memory. Other specificaitons include a 250GB hard drive, four USB 3.0 ports, HDMI and ethernet.

However, The Verge said: "The Xbox Surface will likely include a custom ARM processor and high-bandwidth RAM designed specifically for gaming tasks. We're told these specifications could be altered to accommodate an unannounced Intel SoC,"

Microsoft wouldn't comment on the Xbox Surface but is supposedly developing it at its offices in Silicon Valley. The firm has locked down several Xbox buildings and limited employee access.

It's likely, according to The Verge that the Xbox Surface will arrive before the next generation of Xbox console, the Xbox 720.